ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
The city's Economic Development specialists facilitate economic development by assisting prospective businesses considering relocating to West Sacramento, as well as current West Sacramento business customers who wish to expand or relocate in West Sacramento. Staff assistance includes:

West Sacramento has streamlined building permitting process and can complete commercial plan reviews in 14 business days. The business recruitment specialist can arrange a meeting of the Project Review Committee, a one-stop development review meeting with all city departments to evaluate your proposed project and provide meaningful comments early in the review process. The specialist will be assigned as your economic development liaison with the city’s development review staff to facilitate your project.

Much of West Sacramento lies in a designated Redevelopment Area, enabling businesses to take advantage of Redevelopment Agency Programs. These include creative financing mechanisms to facilitate project development.

West Sacramento is a proud member of the Yolo County BioZone, a collaborative marketing partnership with UC Davis and Yolo County to attract expanding biotechnology companies. The BioZone includes UC Davis, the cities of West Sacramento, Woodland and Davis and Yolo County. The partnership works cooperatively with industry to promote, retain and attract expanding biomedical life science companies in Yolo County. www.yolocountybiozone.com

Companies in these industries may qualify for relocation incentives. Incentives may include development incentives, financing, fee deferrals and credits.

WEST SACRAMENTO BUSINESS LOAN FUND
The city offers a Business Loan Program that can provide gap financing to small businesses in conjunction with conventional lenders. Funding is available for real property acquisition, building construction, capital equipment, furnishings and working capital for companies creating jobs in West Sacramento. Each new full time equivalent position created, qualifies the company for $35,000 in loan funds subject to underwriting criteria. Loan terms are flexible ranging from five to fifteen year amortization and attractive interest rates.

ENTERFUND LOAN PROGRAM/CALIFORNIA CAPITAL
EnterFund specializes in new and expanding small business loans from $250 to $25,000 in the Sacramento Region. California Capital offers new business orientation workshops, assistance with business plans and referrals to established business mentors.

TAX EXEMPT BOND FINANCING FOR MANUFACTURERS

California Communities Program (800) 635-3993 www.cacommunities.com

Tax-exempt bond financing through the California Communities Land, Building and Equipment Program (LBEP) allows manufacturers to borrow up to $10 million at municipal borrowing rates that are far below current private sector interest rates for land, buildings and new equipment. Priority is given to facility development located in designated Enterprise Zones.

Small Business Administration (916) 930-3700 www.sba.gov
Greater Sacramento Small Business Development Center (916) 563-3210 www.sbdc.net

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ASSISTANCE

California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency (916) 327-5262 www.commerce.ca.gov

Employment Training Panel (916) 327-5262 www.etp.ca.gov

A cooperative business-labor program administered by the Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency designed to assist businesses in retraining new or existing employees, by utilizing existing training programs or reimbursing employers for company provided training.

Yolo County Employment Development Department (916) 375-6300

A business recruitment specialist can arrange free employment screening and training services through the Yolo County Employment Development Department office in West Sacramento. This qualification process identifies candidates meeting the company’s stated requirements and also identifies candidates meeting local, state and federal hiring incentives, including State Enterprise Zone tax credits.

LINKS TO OTHER BUSINESS RESOURCES

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Recycling Market Development Zone (916) 617-4590

The City is part of the Sacramento Regional Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ). The program combines recycling with economic development to fuel new businesses, expand existing ones, and create jobs. By providing incentives to businesses that use secondary material from the waste stream as feedstock, recycling-based manufacturers are eligible to apply for technical, marketing and financial assistance including low interest loans.

Highly Underutilized Business (HUB) Zone www.sbaonline.sba.gov/hubzone

This zone designation affords qualifying companies opportunities for preference in government contract procurement. The HUB zone is south of US 50 and north of the Ship Channel.

Procurement Technical Assistance Center (916) 334-9388 www.theftc.org/ptac

The Procurement Technical Assistance Center helps small business sell their products and services to government agencies. Services include a searchable database of available government contracts and classes on submitting proposals and winning contracts.

Target Area Contract Preference Act (TACPA) (916) 375-4400 www.pd.dgs.ca.gov/edip/tacpa

TACPA provides a 5% bid preference on service and commodity contracts valued at more than $100,000 if the business work site is located in a distressed area or adjacent to a distressed area.

Foreign Trade Zone (916) 371-8000 www.portofsacramento.com

A General Purpose Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) is located in West Sacramento adjacent to the Port of Sacramento. Companies in the FTZ may admit foreign and domestic merchandise into the zone for storage, exhibition, assembly, manufacture and processing while deferring payment of customs duties and federal excise taxes until merchandise is transferred from the foreign trade zone.

California State Enterprise Zone www.ftb.ca.gov

The California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency designate economically depressed areas in California as eligible for assistance. They establish Enterprise Zones to encourage and stimulate growth, development, and investment in the area. Taxpayers who invest, operate, or locate a trade or business within an Enterprise Zone may be eligible for special tax incentives. The program includes: Hiring Tax Credits, Sales or Use Tax Credits, Net Operating Loss Carryover and Interest Deduction for Lenders. Most business locations in West Sacramento are located in these designated areas.

1. Hiring Credits – Your business may reduce its state income tax by the amount of wages paid to one or more qualified employees. A maximum of $31,606 in tax credits is available per qualifying employee over a five-year period.
2. Sales or Use Tax Credit – California state income or franchise tax may be reduced by the amount of sales or use tax paid on certain qualifying machinery up to $20,000,000 per year that is purchased for exclusive use in the zone.
3. Net Interest Deduction for Lenders – Financial institutions receive a net interest deduction from the State of California for loans made to businesses located exclusively within the Enterprise Zone.
4. Business Expense Deduction – Part of the cost of certain tangible, personal property purchased for exclusive use in the Enterprise Zone may be deducted as a business expense in the first year it is placed in service.

West Sacramento Enterprise Zone Coordinator (916) 617-4620

1-866-WESTSAC (937-8722)
An Enterprise Zone coordinator is available to assist companies with the state program. The coordinator publishes employment opportunities and issues enterprise zone vouchers for hiring credits of qualified employees. A business recruitment specialist can explain the Enterprise Zone Program and provide an estimate of the financial benefits to your business.

Energy Discount Program 1-866-WESTSAC (937-8722)
West Sacramento is the only Enterprise Zone in the Sacramento Metropolitan Area to offer companies PG&E’s Schedule ED Program, the 3-year Energy Discount Program. A business recruitment specialist can explain the program and provide a referral to the PG&E representative.

BUSINESS RESOURCE DIRECTORY
TELEPHONE
West Sacramento Business License Division (916) 617-4589
West Sacramento Planning Department (916) 617-4645
West Sacramento Engineering Department (916) 617-4645
West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce (916) 371-7042
Yolo County Environmental Health (530) 666-8646
Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District (800) 287-3650
Yolo County Clerk – Fictitious Business Name Filings (916) 666-8130
Yolo County Business License (916) 666-8812
Port of Sacramento (916) 371-8000
Sacramento Area Commerce & Trade Organization (916) 445-3585
State Employer ID Number (916) 551-1446
Federal Employer ID Number (800) 829-1040
West Sacramento Utilities and Recycling (916) 617-4575